Moving comb type cotton harvester



NOV- 21, 1950 s. w. SHELLEY MOVING CMB TYPE CTTON HARVESTER Nov. 2l, 1950 s. W. SHELLEY 2,530,405

MOVING COMB TYPE COTTON HARVESTER Filed May 13, 1947 9 sheets-sheet 2 STARR W-. SHELLEY,

INVENTOR MJA;

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 2l, 1950 Filed May l5, 1947 S. W. SHELLEY MOVING COMB TYPE COTTON HARVESTER 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Nav. 21, 195o l s, W. SHELLEY 2,530,405

Y MOVING COMB TYPE COTTON HARVESTER Filed May 15, 1947 9 sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

Nv. 21, 1950 s. w. SHELLEY 2,530,405

MOVING COMB TPE COTTON HARVESTER Filed May 13. 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 IOI INVENTOR.' STARR W. SHELLEY.

FIG-5 BY I ATTORNEY.

9 Sheets-Sheet 6 S. W. SHELLEY MOVING COMB TYPE COTTON HARVESTER Nov. 2l, 1950 Filed May 13, 1947 STARR W. SHELLEY,

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Nov.' 21, 1950 s, w. SHELLEY 2,530,405

MOVING COMB TYPE COTTON HARVESTER Filed May 13, 1947 j 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 II6 I5 FIG. 7

95) 252 325 324 I i 335 336 332 l| 'SIS l/ "I 90 333 l 'f I l sa? l 35| |42 l34| I 33 8 33o L f 97 342 1 ,98 STARR W. SHELLEY, INVENTOR. l 98 `2M 96 W f I 1I-IHS H2 FIG. 8 ATTORNEY.

Ndv. 21, 1950 s. w. SHELLEY MOVING OOMB TYPE COTTON HARVESTER 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 13, 1947 VSTARR W. SHELLEY,

' INVENTOR.

FIG.' 9

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 2l, 195@ s. W. SHELLEY 2.5309405 MOVING COME TYPE COTTON HARVESTER Filed May 15, 1947 l O sheets-sheet 9 FIG. l2

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 2l, 1.950

UNITED smres maar orexrcifs MOVING l00MB TYPE COTTON IHRVESTER starr w. AShelley, charlotte, o., assigner to L & S Manufacturing Cof., Charlotte, N. Cl, a`` kcorpio'ration'of North Carolina Application May 113, 1947, Serial No; ?l--7,6'.39v

(CI. "5S-35.)

, roiaims; l

This invention relates to a cotton picking apparatus andmore especially toa machine adapted to be pulled by a suitable tractor over a field of cotton and has mechanism for straddling' a row of cotton plants and is adapted to remove from the cotton plants the lbolls with the cotton contained-therein.-

Heretofore various attemptshavebeen made to provide a lcotton picker providing ngersor suctionfmeans for removing the bers from the bolls. Such attempts have been in many cases unsuccessi-ul due to the fact that the ngers. or the suction means would remove bits of the lbolls and cotton leaves, stems of the cottonplant and the like. It is a purpose of this invention to remove the entire bolls from thestalk.

t is therefore an object of this invention to provide amachine adapted to be pulled over arow vof cotton pla-nts and having a pair of endless chain mechanisms provided with tines projecting inwardly towards-each other to engage the cotton bolls and to separate the same from the cotton plants by tearingthe stems loose from the boils or breaking lthe stems -or tearing the stems away fromk the cotton plant and these separated boll's' are raised upwardly by the tines and conveyed laterally and dumped into a suitable bin or compartment contained onthe apparatus and when they .compartment is lled with. the cotton bolls,

the same may `be removed and transported to u the stationary apparatus for further processing in the mechanism as disclosed in said above recited patent application.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine having means for engaging the bolls on c-otton plants as it .travels along a row of cotton plants and separating the boll's from the cotton yplants and elevating the same and dumping the same into a suitable compartment carried by the' framework of rthe machine.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated,V other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying. drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevation looking from the lowerside of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a front elevation with parts Vbroken away and showing the hub of one of the driving pulleys in cross-section and looking substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is arear elevation oi the-upper Ipor-- tionvof the apparatus or a reverse View from that shown in Figure 3, but showing the boll collecting apparatus in elevated position from that-shown 2 in Figure 3- and: being taken` along the line 4'-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 in Figure 3 with parts broken away and insection;

Figure 6 is -an elevation of the lower left-hand sideof the machine showing portions of thev machine as viewedY from the topl side of Figure' `1 .which traversesI the row of cotton plants and omitting the upper iront portion of the apparatusyasv shown in Figure l, ,and .being taken substantially .along the line S- ii in Figure 3;

Figure 'l' is a View taken along the line T-I in-nFigureS andslowing in elevation `the upper portionoi one side of the apparatus as shown in Figur.;

Fig-ure r8 is a schematic view of the front left; hand portion of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 9`.i s an isometric view or the4 frame of the lcoll collecting apparatus' removed fro'r'n the body framework and omitting the conveying means: A

FigureMlris a verticallsctional' view showing a vpart of the conveyor chain take-up means and being faken, .alig' the line N lll in Figure '3;

rig-.eee 1 1 is@ new Aeinen" substantially along the line lluly in Figure' I and' Showing' the means for. securing one of the ground wl'i'eels` t the. framework', me other gro-une weee-'r lbeing secured in like manner; except thatV the' otherwrieeiis not adjust'abie leigflir'e 12 e View taken geesten-remy arene the llI 'TZ-HinrFigl v" lll al1-'dVV SllOWIg how' h fight-nana wiieel' in gurei can' be adjusted to vary, the' width and' tread or theme wheels.

Referring more vspecillcally tothe di'avi/"ings`y the numerals 'mi aridlfn indicate trie side frame-mela.

bers of the apparatus which have .secured beu 2 tween tllei'r iront ends a connecting bar l`2 .and a rear cross barA |3`and` intermediate cross bars I4, mandi lia The intermediate cross-bar" :f6 does' not extend all the way across' the niachine'but Vis connected to aulong'i'tudinally ei'ite'nding bar Il having. its emes joined te menant bar' l2' and the intermediate cross bar l5'. Extending between-the `back bar ,f3 and intermediate cross bar lllV is. a plurality of longitudinally extendingl bars I9. The main frame ofthe apparatus is adapted to-bepulledi-by aisuitable prime mover such as a tractor' and the front. cross bar I`2' has welded toand projecting therefrom a draw bar i8 which adaptedllto be-pi'v'tally connected4 as at. 2liA to a d raw bar 2l of a tractor '22'. The .main frame/just described isspported onsuitable wheels 25 and 3 26. The wheel is supported by means of a downwardly projecting bar 21 welded at its upper end to intermediate cross bar I5 and at its lower end to the vertically disposed bar 21. The vertically disposed bar 21 is also braced by an angularly disposed bar 32 welded at its lower end to the vertically disposed bar 21 and at its upper end to the intermediate cross bar I4. The other wheel 26 is supported by a vertically disposed bar 34 welded at its upper end to a bar 35 of a rectangular framework comprising not only bar 35 but bars 36, 31, 38 and 39. The vertically'disposed bar 34 is braced by a bar 40 welded at its lower end to the vertically disposed bar 34 and at its upper end to the bar 36. The vertically disposed bar 34 is also braced by an angularly disposed bar 4I Welded at its lower end to the bar 34 and at its upper end to the bars 31 and 38. It is necessary that the position of wheel 26 be adjustable relative to the wheel 25 and therefore the bars I4 and l5 are slotted as at 43 and 44 through which bolts and 46 are passed and which penetrate the bars 36 and 38. The cross members i4 and i5 have welded thereto a plurality of L-shaped clips 59 and 5l respectively which project downwardly and beneath the bars 36 and 38 and thus prevent downward movement of the wheel 25 when the adjusting bolts 45 and 43 are loosened to adjust the wheel 25 and its frame work laterally with respect to the wheel 25.

By referring to Figure 2, it is seen that on the left-hand side of the machine there is secured to the side bar I3 a downwardly projecting bar 55 which is braced by a brace bar 56. There is also secured to the side bar I0 a downwardly projecting bar 51 and the lower end of the bracing bar 56 is secured near the lower end of the bars and 51. Secured at the lower end of the bar 55 is a forwardly projecting bar 58 by means of a suitable pivot bolt 59. Near the front end of bar 58 there is secured the upper end of a downwardly and forwardly projecting bar 6I whose lower end is secured to a back-turned shoe portion 62 of a bar which projects upwardly and is welded to the front end of bar 58. The uprising portion of shoe member 62 has secured thereto a shield member 53 which projects inwardly and backwardly.

In order to support the free end of bar 58 there is a bar B5 welded to the front surfacepf frame member I2 which projects downwardly and is turned inwardly beneath the bar 58 and has its ends welded to the lower end of an angle bar 66 whose upper end is welded to the front cross bar I2 and whose lower end is supported by a j brace bar 61 which projects upwardly and rearwardly to a horizontally disposed angle bar 10. Fastened at its front end to the lower end of angle bar 66 is a rearwardly extending bar 68 and there is a xed shield 69 secured at its' lower end to the bar 68 and the shield 69 is supported at its front end by being secured to the angle bar 56. Also secured to the lower surface of the horizontally disposed bar 10, which is secured between side bar i9 and intermediate bar I1, is a vertically disposed bar 1I which at its lower end is welded to the horizontally projecting bar 68 to thus form a support for the stationary sheet :letal member 69.

The description given for the right-hand side ci the machine for the parts beginning with reference character 55 and ending with reference character 1l equally applies to the left-hand side oi the machine and like reference characters will apgly, except that these parts are secured to the Gil 4 bar I1 and other associated bars already dscriced, and the prime notation will be added to the parts on the left-hand side of the machine in Figure 3.

For accommodating the boll picking apparatus, a suitable superstructure, or framework, rises from the main frame. There are two vertically disposed angle bars 12 and 13 which have their lower ends welded to the side bar I0. Also, there are two upright angle bars 14 and 15 which have their lower ends welded to the cross bar I5 and to longitudinally extending bar I1 respectively. At the upper ends of bars 12 and 13 a longitudinally extending top angle bar 16 is secured and to the top ends of vertically disposed bars 14 and 15 is secured a longitudinally extending angle bar 11. To the top of bars 12 and 13 is secured a cross angle 18 and to the top ends of vertically disposed angle bars 13 and 15 is secured a horizontally disposed angle bar 19.

Secured at their lower ends to the channel bar I0 are upright bars 80 and 8| (see Figure 1) and at the junction point of rear bar I3 and side bar I9 is secured an upright angle bar 83. Secured at their lower ends to the rear transverse channel bar I8 are upright angle bars 84 and 85. Secured at the junction point of the rear cross channel bar I3 and longitudinally extending side bar l I is a corner angle bar 86. Secured at their lower ends to the side channel bar II are the upright angle bars 81, 88, 89, and 90. Secured to the upright angle bar 12 at its front end, and to the top ends of angle bars 89, 8| and corner bar 83 is an angle bar 92 (see Figure 2) and secured to the upper end oi upright angle bars 84 and 35 and to the corner bars 83 and 86 is an upper angle bar 93. Secured to the upper end of corner angle bar 86 and to the upright angle bars 81, 88, 89 and 99 is a horizontally extending upper angle bar 94. Secured to the upright bar 15 and corner upright bar 99 is an upper angle bar 95. Secured on the inside of the vertical posts to 90 inclusive, bar 91 and to vertical bars 12 and 15 are wall panels 98. This forms the framework of the bed or bin into which the cotton bolls are adapted to be dumped by the picker and elevating means to be later described.

Secured on top of the side bars I0 and II and the rear and front cross bars I2 and I3 and to the cross bars I4, I5, and I6 and to the longitudinally extending bars I1 and I9 is a iloor 96 made of any suitable material such as board, plank and the like. Secured at its lower end on top of the floor 96 is an angle bar 91 whose upper end is welded or otherwise secured to the upper horizontal cross bar 95.

The upwardly projecting frame accommodating the vertically movable frame which has the sprocket chains and tines therein and which will be later described, not only comprises the corner posts 12, 13, 14 and 15 but also comprises two vertically disposed shafts I 00 and IIJI which are welded at their top ends to the top cross bars 16 and 11 respectively. The shaft IOI is welded at its lower end to the lower cross bar 10 and the vertically disposed shaft is welded to the cross bar I5 at its lower end (see Figure 6).

The main frame for supporting the boll picking apparatus not only comprises the vertically disposed bars 12, 13, 14 and 15 as well as the other bars and structure heretofore described, but there is also provided a horizontally disposed strap iron member 465 which is welded at one end to the upright bar 12 and at its other end to the vertically disposed shaft |98.

iThere is also a strap iron member' ||l6`- Welded at its upper end to top cross bar |`1 and at its lower end to an intermediate portion of bar |85. See Figure 4.

Between vertically disposed shaft |ll| and vertically disposed bar 13 is .secured a strap iron member |01 by beingV welded at Aone end to upright bar 13 and at its other end to shaft |61. There is also a strap iron member |68 welded at .itsupper end tocross bar 19 and to an intermediate portion of `strap iron member |61. See Fig'. ure 3.

Welded to one end of upper cross bars 18- and 1'9 and more'clearly shown in Figures 3 andl are suitable angle brackets H and respectively which have welded thereto suitable bearings H2 and H3 respectively. In these bearings iH2 and H3 is oscillatably mounted a shaft H4 having welded at one end thereof a lever H5 and to the other "end thereof is welded a lever ||6.` The lever H6 has a laterally projecting handle portion lilla integral therewith which can be manipulated for oscillating the shaft H4. To the free end of the levers H5 and H6 are secured eye bolts H1 and H8 respectively and these eye bolts ||1 and H8 have secured therein the upper ends of suitable cables or` links |28 and |2| respectively, the lower ends of Which are connected to a vertically movable frame to be presently described.

The vertically movable frame for accommodating 'the endless conveyors having tines there'- on for removing the cotton bolls from the stalks is designated broadly at |25. See Figure 9. This frame |25 comprises a pair of vertically disposed angle bars |26 .and |21 which have secured to their lower ends curved strap members |28 `and |29 respectively. Welded to the proximate surfaces of these members |28 and |29, and extending therebetween is a shoe or skid member '|3|. There is also provided a companion skid member |32 -which has at its two ends curved members |33 and |34, respectively. These project `upwardly and are Welded to the remote surfaces of angularly disposed angle bars |35 and |36. These bars |35 and |36 extend upwardly and are' in'- clined away from the vertically disposedV angle bars |26 and |21.

Welded to the upper ends of angle bars |35 'and |36' are upwardly and outwardly extending angle bars |31 and |38 respectively. Welded to the top surface of angle bar |31 is a stub shaft |4| and welded to the top surface of angle bar |31 is a stub shaft |42. Welded to the top surface of shaft |4| is another angle bar |43 which extends outwardly and upwardly in parallel relation to `angle bar |31, thus providing a slot |44 between the angle bars |31 and |43. The'outer ends of angle bars |31 and |43 have welded thereto a strap iron member |45.

Welded to the top surface of stub shaft |42 is an angle bar |46 which extends outwardly and upwardly in parallel relation to angle` bar |38, thus forming a slot |41. The outer ends of angle bars |38 and |46 have welded` thereto a strap iron member |48. Welded tothe inner ends of angle bars |31 and |43 is one end of an angle bar |56, whose other end is welded to the inner surface of upright angle bar |26. Also welded to the inner ends of angle bars |38 and |46 Ais an angle bar |5| whose other end is welded to the inside surface of vertically disposed angle bar |21.

Welded to the top surface of angle bar |43 isan vangle bar |53 whose other end is welded toa -horizon-tally disposed angle bar |54. The other end of vencierra i miY isf'weided to-ztue topj end'- cf ver: tically disposed angle bar |26. WeldedfV to the lower surface of the horizontal web of angle bar |54 is another angle 'bar |55 (see Fig. and to the vertical web of angle bar |55 `is secured a bearing |56 which is slidably penetrated by vertical shaft |60. Welded on top *of the end 'of angle bar |54 nearest theV observer in Figure'g isa spacing-block |51 which has welded thereto one end of an angle bar |58 whose other' end is Welded to a spacing strap 6|- whichV i's'ilikewise welded to the rear endV of anglefbar |54-as viewed in Figure'Q'; vThis provides a slot' '|62 between/the angle bars |54' and |58, the purpose of which will-be later described.

Weldedl on the outside of vertically disposed angle bar |26 is a` small angle piece |61' which serves asa perch for a driving shaft, to be later decsribed. Welded to lthe a1-igle-bars|54?and` |55 is an angularly disposed angle bar |653- whose lower 4end iswelded to the lower end 'of anglebar |53 and to angle bar |43. This angle-bar |'63has al bearing |64 on its lower surface in: which is xedly mountedl a vStub-shaft |65 on whichv is rotatably mountedk an 'idler' sprocket |66.

Weldedto the topsurfaceof angle bar |467is an angle'bar-HD which projects upwardly and which has -welded to the `upper end thereof'a horizontally disposed anglev bar |1| and thisV in turn has welded 'on top thereof* anv angle bar '|121 Welded on top of one end' of vangle-bar '|127 lis a spacingv block l 13 which has welded thereto one end of an angle bar |14. Theotherends ofbars |1|, |12 and |14 havewelded thereto a strap viron memberA |15 'which holds the bar |14- in spaced relation to the upper surface of *anl anglebarfl12, thus providing a slot 116 similar to slot-1F62. Welded on the outside of Iangle bar |1| is an angle clip :|11 similar to angle clip |61 atA the other side of the frame |25. Welded to the lower surface of the horizontal leg of angle vbar |T|'. This anglebar |86 has a bearing block |82 welded thereto in which is welded a stub shaft |83- on which is rotatably mounted lan idler sprocket wheel |84. See Figure- 5. Disposedl` between 'the bars |26 and |35 is an angle bar |85 on which 'is xe'dly mounted 'a bearing block |86 adapted "to slidablyreceive the `shaft |60. The angle bar` |55 has the bearing |56, already described, secured on its outer surface which cooperates with the bearing block |86 and which is identical to a bearing block 88 fixed on the angle bar` 1| which is vadapted to slidably receive the vertical shaft lul. Disposed between and having its ends welded to the angle bars '|21and |36 is an angle bar |90 which has a 'bearing |`9| on its' exterior surface which is also adapted toy 'slidably'receive the shaftv |6|.

Welded at one end to plate |6| is an angle bar |94 whose other end is 'welded to the plate |495 and weldedv to plate |15 is one end ofv `an angle bar |95 whose other end is welded to .plate |43. Disposed between and welded to the proximate horizontal leg's of angle bars |84v and |95 is a vpipe or shaft |36. A horizontal pipe 'or shaft '|91 is secured between upright angles 255. and 28|, the upper ends of which are welded respectively to the angle bars |85 and |9`6,. and the lower ends of which are welded to the angle bars |35 and |36 and to the curved plate members |33 and |34.

Stub idler shafts 262 and '203 are welded Vbetween the lower ends of angle bars '266 and' |135, and 26| and |36, respectively. Welded to the lower portion of' angle vbar `|36 and projecting outwardly therefrom isa strap iron member 204 which passes under and-engages the bar 58 to raise the same when the frame 125 is caused to raise. vA vertically disposed angle bar 266 is welded at its upper end to angle bar 185 and projects downwardly and is welded to a stub shaft 261 which stub shaft is also welded to the lower portion of angle bar 126. Welded to the curved plate member 129 is the lower end of an angle bar 288 whose upper end is welded Ato horizontal angle bar 196. Welded to one leg of angle bar 121 at its lower end is an outwardly projecting strap iron member 218 which passes under and engages the bar 58 and causes the same to raise when the frame 125 is caused to raise. Between the angle bar 268 and angle bar 121 is welded a stub shaft 209.

The vertical angle bars 126 and 121 have welded therebetween horizontally disposed pipes or shafts 212 and 213. A diagonally disposed pipe or shaft 214 has its ends welded at the junction point of shaft 212 and angle bar 126 at one end and has its other end welded at the junction point of vertical angle bar 121 and shaft or pipe 213. A pair of short pipes 216 and 211 are welded between the ends of pipe or shaft 212 and 213 respectively and the shaft or pipe 214 to form a diagonal brace in addition to the diagonal brace 214. The horizontal angle bar 158 has welded thereto an angle clip 228 while angle bar 151 has welded thereto an angle clip 221. The angle clips 228 and 221 have mounted thereon bearing blocks 222 and 223 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 224 which has mounted onthe front end thereof a sprocket wheel 225. See Figure 5.

In order to suspend the frame 125 for vertical movement within the main frame comprising vertical angle bars 12, 13, 14 and 15, it is to be noted that the levers 115 and 116 with their eye bolts 111 and 118 therein have downwardly projecting links 128 and 121. These links 125 and 121 project downwardly and are secured to outwardly projecting members 238 and 231 which are welded to the diagonal angle bars 153 and 186 respectively. Also secured to the members 238 and 23| are short cables 233 and 234 whose upper ends are secured to levers 236 and 231 which are pivoted intermediate their ends as at 238 and 239 and the horizontally disposed angles 185 and 161. The other ends of the levers 236 and 231 have secured thereto one end of tension springs 24D and 241 respectively whose lower ends are secured to projections 242 and 243 projecting from the proximate sides oi the vertically disposed angle bars 12 and 13. The manner of securing the lower ends of the springs 248 and 241 to the projections 242 and 243 comprises threaded bolts 246 and 241 whereby the tension in the springs 246 and 241 can be adjusted. This mechanism just described provides a counterbalance for supporting some but not all of the weight of the vertically movable frame 125 and assists in lifting the frame 125 by means of the lever 116e.

Angle brackets 151 and 111 respectively have bearing blocks 250 and 251 secured on their upper surfaces in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 252 which has sprockets 253, 254 and 255 mounted on the ends thereof. See Figures 3 and 4. It will be observed that the angie bars 154 and 158 have a slot 162 there-between and also angle bars 112 and |14 have a slot 115 therebetween. Slidably mounted in the slots 152 and 116 respectively are blocks 256 and 251 (see 8 Figure 5) which have plates 258 and 259 welded to their proximate ends and which t flush against angle bars 154 and 158 and angle bars 112 and 114 respectively. The outer ends of these blocks 256 and 251 have plates 26| and 262 respectively tting thereagainst and the outer ends of these blocks 256 and 251 have a threaded bore therein and suitable screws 264 and 265 penetrate these plates and thus slidably secure the blocks 256 and 251 for sliding movement in the slots 162 and 118 respectively. The blocks 256 and 251 are threadably penetrated by bolts 261 and 258 which slidably penetrate the plates 161 and 115 respectively. The plates 258 and 259 have welded thereto one end of stub shaft 211 and 212 on which idler sprockets 213 and 214 are rotatably mounted. The bearing blocks 256 and 251 extend along the slots 162 and 116 respectively and are slotted as at 215 and 216 respectively, and these slots are penetrated by suitable bolts 211 and 218 respectively which penetrate plates 281 and 258 and plates 259 and 282 respectively whereby the bolts 211 and 218 can be tightened to clamp the bearing blocks 255 and 251 in adjusted position. See Figures 3,

4 and lO.

Rotatably mounted on the stub shafts 281 and 208 shown in Figure 9 are two idler sprockets 285 and 288 shown in Figure 2. Mounted on the sprocket wheels 253, 213, 166 and 285 is a sprocket chain 298 and mounted on the sprocket Wheels near the front of the machine indicated at 254, 214, 184 and 286 is a sprocket chain 291. Certain spaced links, shown in the drawings as being every other link of the two sprocket chains 299 and 291, have inturned ears 292 integral therewith. To certain spaced lugs 292 of the sprocket chains 288 and 291 are welded cross bars 293 and all of the lugs 292 have secured thereto by suitable bolts 254 sections of fabric 295. The cross bars 293 are angular in cross sections and have welded, to the portion which is Welded to the sprocket chains, outwardly projecting spaced tines 296 which are curved at their free ends in the direction of travel of the chains. d

The angle bars |43 and |31 and 146 and |38 which have the slots 116 and 141 therebetween and which are bound together at their ends by the clips 145 and 148 respectively are identical in structure to the previously described structure associated with angle bars 158 and 154 and angle bars 114 and 116 respectively. Between these last named angle bars, namely, 143, 131 and 146 and 138 respectively is la bearing block assembly and adjusting assembly identical to that previously described for angle bars 158, 154 and 114 and 112 respectively and an additional description is not necessary as identical characters with prime notations added will be applied to the bearing block assembly and adjustment therefor associated with the bars 143, 131 and 146 and 138 respectively, and the bearing blocks 255' and 251 which are mounted in slots 144 and 141 have inwardly projecting stub shafts 211 and 212' welded thereto and on which idler sprockets 368 and 3D1 are rotatably mounted. The stub shaft 141 projects inwardly and the stub shaft 142 not only projects outwardly as previously described from frame but also projects inwardly. Mounted on the proximate ends of stub shaft 14| and |42 are idler sprockets 362 and 303 respectively. See Figure 7.

Within the connes of :frame 125 and xedly is mounted a sprocket chain 3|6. chain ,3|5 also engages `sprocket 225 1and. is

9 secured von the shaft 224 are sprocket wheels 304 .and 4305. See Figure 5. On the stub shaft 282 and 203 near the lower left-hand portion of frame |25 `when viewed from they `front are ro- Htatably mounted idler sprocket Wheels 353 and 301. See Figure 6.

.Mounted on the rear sprocket wheels 304, 303, 302 and 303 isa sprocket chain 3m and mounted on the. `front sprocket wheels 335, 30|, 333 and 301 is a front sprocket chain 3| These sprocket chains 3|!) and 3|| are identical in structure to the sprocket chains 290 and `23| and the laterally Aprojecting lugs from certain of these links, the

cross bars, the tines, and the fabric pieces all .bear like reference characters with the prime vnotation added. Stub -shaft |42 has rotatably mounted thereon an idler sprocket 3|5 on which The sprocket mounted onsprocket wheel 255.

"Welded to plate 23| and to angle bar |80 is a substantially U-shaped member .-3|'| which pro'- jects upwardly and has its upper inturned -leg welded to angle bar |fi| (Figure The vertically-'disposed `portion of member 3|? has a plu- `rality of vertically disposed slots 320 therein in which are mounted bolts 32| so that it can be adjusted vertically and a plate 322 is disposed y against the vertical 1 portion of member 3|'| and :has suitable holes therein penetrated by the vbolts 32|. The plate 322-has welded thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom a stub shaft 324 fon which is mounted an idler lsprocket 325 and,

.as'explained isV vertically adjustable as -a tightener sprocket' for the `sprocket chain SIE.

`Integral with sprocket SI5 is a V-pulley 339 Whichhas mounted thereon a -V-belt 33| which isfmounted on a smaller -V-pulley 332 rotatably mounted on `a stub shaft 333. The belt 33| is engaged by an idler pulley 334 mounted on the free end of an arm 335 pivotally secured -as at 336 to the upright angle bar l5. Integral with YV-pul-ley 332 is a larger V-pulley 331 which has mounted thereon a V-belt 338 which is mounted also on a `V-pulley 34E which in turn is fixedly secured on a motor shaft 34| of a prime mover 34-2 which in the present instance is a small internal combustion engine.

In the drawings the various rows of cotton .plants as well as the individual cotton plants are indicated at R whereas the bolls of cotton are indicated by the reference character B. This machine is adapted to traverse one row of cotton ata time and usually the plants of cotton are much spread out over a vmuch wider space than the space left between the proximate edges of the guards 63 andi and the lower guards 33 and 63 lbut.sincethe branches of the cotton plant project upwardlytheir -iree ends will be raised up and crowded between the fenders and then the tines 296 and 29S' will pass upwardly through the cotton plants, and since the distance between the tines 296 is less than the smallest diameter .of ythe cotton bolls, asthese bolls will vary in size on particular plants, it -means that the cotton bolls will be caught between the tines and the stems will be severed somewhere along their length to thus separate the bolls `from the cotton plants. Since the right-hand elevator in Figure 3'runs in a clockwise manner and the left-hand elevator or endless chains run in a counterclockwise manner, it is thus seen that the tines 286 and 296' xwhich are moving upwardly vertically Will be moving at the same rate oi speed and Vwith their ends in Yclose proximity 'to each l() other. The cotton bolls will be carried upwardly and those on the tines 29S will be conveyed laterally at the upper end of the left-hand elevator chain in Figure 3 and will be dumped onto the oor^35- The bolls which -are being elevated by the tines 235 on the right-hand elevator chain in Figure 3 will pass upwardly to a higher level and since the left-hand reach of this right-hand chain, Figure v3, will be directed laterally it will therefore `dump all the cotton bolls downwardly .onto the uprising tines 233 or onto'the fabric .sheets which are in horizontal position on the left-hand elevator mechanism. In any event, the bolls from both of the elevators will be transferred laterally and dumped onto the floor 55 of the framework on which this apparatus is mounted. vTt is of course evident that as the cotton bolls pile up underneath the left-hand end of the horizontal portion of the left-hand conveyor in Figure 3 that an operator will sweep the bolls backwardly and spread them out over the entire floor 3S until the bin formed by the walls 93 will be completely lled at which time the cotton bolls will be transferred from the machine or Iwill be conveyed to a suitable ber handling apparatus as set forth in my above referred to co-pending patent application where the bolls and other impurities will be removed from the cotton iibers.

When the apparatus is not engaged in the picking of cotton bolls it is of course necessary to raise it to elevated position for transport from place to place. rThis means that the vertically movable frame E25 will be raised which will take the skids |3land |32 vout of contact with the ground, and this will also raise the skids or shoes 52 and E2 :and associated framework upwardly away from the groundfdue to the fact that the laterally projecting members 204 and ZIE! will pass beneath the side bars v58 and 56 which are pivoted at 5e and 53' and thus the shoes |52 and 6,2 and associated parts Iwill be raised upwardly along with the vertically movable frame 25. This frame |25 is `moved upwardly by downward pressure on lever ||6a which through the links |28 and I2! will raise the frame |25 upwardly. The frame 25 can beheld in elevated position during transport ypurposes by any suitable means, one means being Y .an arcuate harV 345 yhaving one end welded to the upright angle bar 'i4 and having a center which is the center of bearing box H2 and this bar may have a `plurali-ty of holes 343 therethrough .and a suitable pin 34E may be passed through one .of the holes346 in the .bar 3&5 and through a hole in the lever l-lfa which Ywill hold the frame E25 in elevated-position. See Figure el.

Another `advantage of having the vertically movable frame |25 counterbalanced by the tension springs 240 land 24| is that a large part of the weight of the frame being carried by the springs 24|) and 24| will make it move upwardly easily when the curved bars 523 and 34 or the skids |3-| and |32 strike an obstruction like rock or other elevation and thus the frame 25 can move upwardly much` more easily than ii the skids |3-| and |32 were supporting the entire weight of the frame.

Attention'iscalled tothe fact that in case the curved members or shoesf52 and 32 should engage an obstruction or elevation, they can raise Aupwardly independently on their pivots 53 and 53 in advance of the frame |25 being raised upwardly by engaging such obstructions.

Attention is also called to the fact that the frame |25 vis 'guided in its up-and-down movements-'by the two vertically disposed shafts it@ and IUI which as has been described have their ends anchored in the xed frame having the four corner posts '12, 13, 'M and l5 and the intermedi- `ate portions thereof are slidably mounted in the bearing blocks 455 and 86 and bearing blocks I9! and |88 respectively, which are mounted on the vertically movable frame |215 as has previously been described.

In the drawings and specification there has been set Vforth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

l. In a cotton picker for severing cotton bolls from cotton plants, having a wheeled framework and a vertically disposed inverted U-shaped framework mounted in the wheeled framework, and having a pair of substantially vertically disposed endless conveyors mounted therein and said endless conveyors having a plurality of transverse spaced rows of closely spaced tines secured thereto and means for driving the conveyors so that their proximate sides move upwardly at the same rate of speed, and whereby a row of tines on one conveyor will move upwardly alongside a row of tines on the other conveyor, a laterally directed leg portion integral with the upper end of each of the conveyors, whereby -the bolls will fall from the leg portions of the conveyors by gravity.

2. In a structure according to claim l, a pair of vertically movable shields pivotally connected to the wheeled framework and being disposed forwardly of the lower ends of the endless conveyors, the shields having shoe members secured to the lower front ends thereofc for engaging the ground over which the wheeled framework is adapted to be moved and whereby upon the shoes engaging an obstruction, the shields will pass over the obstruction and will be moved upwardly relative to the wheeled framework and will fall downwardly by gravity after passing over the obstruction and whereby the shields will guide the branches of the cotton plant between the proximate sides of the vertically disposed endless conveyors.

3. In a structure according to claim 1, means for resiliently supporting the vertically disposed framework in the wheeled framework comprising a fixed vertically disposed framework surrounding the first-named vertically disposed framework and being integral with the wheeled framework and the first-named vertically disposed framework being mounted for vertical sliding movement in the xed framework, a lever pivotally secured intermediate its ends to the fixed vertically disposed framework, one end of said lever being connected to the first-named vertically disposed framework and spring means connecting the end of the level` remote from the end secured to the first-named vertically disposed framework to the fixed vertically disposed framework.

4. In a structure according to claim 3, manually operable means for raising the first-named vertically disposed framework and for locking the vertically disposed framework in an elevated position relative to the fixed vertically disposed framework comprising of a lever arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the upper end of the xed vertically disposed framework, a connection between one end of the lever arm and the first-named vertically disposed framework, an arcuate member secured to the fixed vertically disposed framework and being disposed adjacent one side of the lever arm and having a plurality of bores therein and a removable pin mounted in the lever arm whereby the free end of the lever arm may be moved downwardly by an operator and the pin may be inserted through the lever arm and through any one of the bores in the arcuate member to thus retain the first-named vertically disposed framework in an elevated position relative to the fixed framework.

5. In an apparatus for separating cotton bolls from cotton plants comprising a wheeled framework, said wheeled framework having a vertically disposed framework therein and having a `pair of substantially parallel and vertically disposed endless conveyors mounted therein, and means for driving the endless-conveyors, and the said conveyors having laterally projecting tines secured thereto and projecting in close proximity to each other, said tines being arranged in horizontal spaced rows across the conveyors and having the outer ends of the tines on one conveyor in close proximity to the outer ends of the tines on the other conveyor, the tines being spaced from each other sumciently to allow vegetation to pass therebetween but close enough to prevent a cotton boil from passing therebetween, the sets of tines on one conveyor occupying substantially the same elevation as corresponding sets of tines on the other conveyor as they move upwardly, each of the said vertically disposed conveyors at its top portion having a laterally directed leg, whereby when the apparatus is drawn along a row of cotton plants, thelaterally projecting tines on the proximate reaches of the conveyors, will move upwardly through the cotton plants to engage and separate the bolls therefrom and whereby the tines will discharge their bolls from the conveyors.

6. In a cotton picker for severing cotton bolls from cotton plants, having a wheeled framework and a vertically disposed framework mounted in the wheeled framework, and having a pair of substantially vertically disposed endless conveyors mounted therein and said endless conveyors having a plurality of rows of closely spaced tines secured thereto, said tines being arranged in horizontal spaced rows across the outer ends of the tines on one conveyor in close proximity to the outer ends of the tines on the other conveyor, the tines being spaced from each other sufliciently to allow vegetation to pass therebetween, but close enough to prevent a cotton boll from passing therebetween, the sets of tines on one conveyor occupying substantially the same elevation as corresponding sets of tines on the other conveyor as they move upwardly, and means for driving the conveyors so that their proximate sides move upwardly at the same rate of speed and a laterally directed conveyor portion integral with each of the conveyors.

7. In a cotton picker for severing cotton' bolls from cotton plants having a wheeled framework and having a pair of substantially vertically disposed endless conveyors mounted therein, the said endless conveyors having a plurality of closely spaced tines secured thereto and means for driving the conveyors so that their proximate sides move upwardly at the same rate of speed, a vertically movable frame mounted in the wheeled framework and in which the conveyors are mounted, means for resiliently mounting the vertically movable frame in the wheeled frame- 13 werk and manually operable means for raising the vertically movable framework relative to the wheeled frame, said vertically movable framework being adapted to move downwardly Aby gravity when permitted by the manually operable means for raising' the same, an additional means for locking the vertically movable framework in adjusted position relative to the framework, the lower end of the vertically movable frame having skids thereon which are adapted to engage the ground over which the wheeled framework is adapted to be moved and whereby, upon the skids engaging an obstruction, such as a rock, the vertically movable frame will bounce upwardly due to its resilient mounting.

STARR W. SHEILEY.

REFERENCES CITE) The following references are of record iii the file Of this patent:

UTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 286,055 Myers et a1. 111- Oct. 2, 1883 '794,265 Watson -g., l July 11, 1905 1,147,961 Matlock July 27, 1915 1,195,030 Keeling Aug. l5, 1916 1,664,924 Helton Apr. 3, 1928 1,700,926 Dykes Feb. 5, 1929y 1,740,274 Speck Dec. 17. 1929 1,750,536 McDonald Mar. 11, 1930y 1,763,646 Callahan June 17, 1930 

